Vibration-activated light emitting indication apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a vibration-activated light emitting indication apparatus comprising: a case or a carrier; an indicator plate, which is transparent and contains a pattern, including, for example, a logo, characters, and drawings; an electroluminescent laminate; a power supply, which powers the electroluminescent laminate; a vibration sensor IC, which senses the vibration caused by an external act of pressing or shaking on the apparatus, and then controls an inverter to activate the electroluminescent laminate. The above-mentioned apparatus may be mounted on any case, such as a DVD box, a watch box, a jewelry box and any other cases. The pattern on the transparent indicator plate can be highlighted by the light emitted from the electrolumienscent laminate, achieving a vivid image such that the case is elaborately ornamented.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a light emitting indicationapparatus, and in particular, to a vibration-activated indicationapparatus, which is that located on the surfaces of packages or any kindof cases and emits light as being touched or shacked by a user.

[0003] 2. Description of Prior Art

[0004] Currently, the cases for containing goods can just be beautifiedon their surface and shape or with logo. Such superficial beautificationof the surface and shape of the case turns out not quite attractive.

[0005] Moreover, as logo or advertisement on the surface of case forgoods is dull, it is very difficult to make a strong impression on theconsumers and attract them to purchase the goods. By combiningtechnology of electroluminescent laminate with image and sound effectsto lively show logo, pattern and character on a flat plane, the casesfor goods can not only become vivid but also stimulate the customers'will to purchase the goods. Thus, the brand of the goods is veryimpressive and gains a better reputation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide avibration-activated light emitting indication apparatus, which can beactivated by vibrations caused by external pressing or shaking to theapparatus and then shows the patterns on an indicator plate.

[0007] A further object of the present invention is to provide avibration-activated light emitting indication apparatus that can enhancesound and image effects of the decorated patterns on the surface of apackage or any kind of cases.

[0008] To achieve the above purposes, the vibration-activated lightemitting indication apparatus of the present invention, which is mountedon a case, comprises:

[0009] an indicator plate, which is transparent and has a patternthereon;

[0010] a power supply;

[0011] an electroluminescent laminate, which is situated beneath theindicator plate and can emit a light as powered by the power supply; and

[0012] a control unit, connected to the power supply and theelectroluminescent laminate, wherein the control unit connects the powersupply to the electroluminescent laminate when it senses the vibrationcaused by external pressing or shaking on the vibration-activated lightemitting indication apparatus.

[0013] The apparatus described above can be mounted on any kind ofcases, such as a DVD case, a bag, a jewelry box, a toy box, etc.According to the present invention, a vibration sensor IC activates theelectroluminescent laminate by sensing the external environment. Thelight emitted from the electroluminescent laminate passes through thetransparent indicator plate, highlighting the pattern on the indicatorplate. Thus, the goods are elaborately beautified.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PATTERNS

[0014] The present invention will be described in accidence with theaccompanying figures, wherein:

[0015]FIG. 1 is a first embodiment of the vibration-activated lightemitting indication apparatus of the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 2 is a second embodiment of the vibration-activated lightemitting indication apparatus of the present invention; and

[0017]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the vibration-activated lightemitting indication apparatus of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018]FIG. 1 shows the first embodiment of the vibration-activated lightemitting indication apparatus in accordance with the present invention.As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus of the present invention is located ona surface of a DVD box 10, and it can be activated by the vibrationcaused by external act of pressing or shaking on the DVD box 10. On thesurface of the DVD box 10, the pattern on an indicator plate 11 can behighlighted by a light that is emitted from an electroluminescentlaminate. The indicator plate 11 may be made out of a transparentmaterial with patterns intended to be shown thereon. The presentinvention can also have a variety of the indicator plates changing thelight emitting essences of electroluminescent laminate, such as singleflicking, multiple flicking, flicking frequency, different colors, andso on.

[0019]FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the vibration-activated lightemitting indication apparatus in accordance with the present invention.An indicator plate 21 is mounted on any surfaces on a DVD box 20, ifdesired.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, a vibration sensor IC and a power supply 22are always placed inside the box 20. A converter in the vibration sensorIC is to control the electroluminescent laminate 31. The vibrationsensor IC can sense the vibration of the box 20 caused by external actof pressing or shaking and thereby activates the electroluminescentlaminate 31. According to another embodiment, a music IC can also beconnected to the vibration sensor IC so that the box 20 can furthersound a music in addition to the vivid image formed by theelectroluminescent laminates 31. The power supply 22 is provided withD.C. batteries to supply power to the apparatus.

[0021]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the vibration-activated lightemitting indication apparatus of the present invention. A power supply,which includes a driving circuit and batteries, can power to electrodesof electroluminescent laminate to emit a light. Moreover, the powersupply may be designed for several different power supply modes, such asconsecutive power supply or intermittent power supply, to obtaindifferent effects, such as flicking of the indicator plate.

[0022] The control unit 32 contains a vibration sensor IC and aninverter which is used as a switch to activate the electroluminescentlaminate 31. After sensing vibration caused by external act of vibrationof the case, the inverted switches to an “on” state to activate theelectroluminescent laminate 31. If a musical effect is needed, the musicIC can be connected to control the musical effect when the vibrationsensor IC is activated. After plural clock pulses after theelectroluminescent laminate is activated, the control unit 32disconnects the power supply from the electroluminescent laminate 31.

[0023] The electroluminescent laminate 31 essentially consists of alamination of a transparent substrate, a transparent electrode layer, afluorescent layer, and a back electrode layer. When the transparentelectrode layer and the back electrode layer are biased by a potential,the fluorescent layer emits a light and the light will pass through thetransparent substrate. The electroluminescent laminate may be designedin accordance with the need of the indicator plate. For example, thetransparent substrate may be a multicolored layer to enrich the coloreffect.

[0024] Given the above, a vibration-activated light emitting indicationapparatus can be obtained by combining a power supply and a mainstructure, which includes the case, the indicator plate, the vibrationsensor IC, the electroluminescent laminate, and the inverter. The casecan be a package for a variety of goods, such as a DVD box, a watchcase, a jewelry box, and a stationery case. Furthermore, the indicatorplate can be mounted on any arbitrary surfaces of the case, such as theinside or the outside of the case. The image effect may be exhibitedtogether with a musical effect. Also, the consecutive multicoloredflicking of the electroluminescent laminate may further highlight thepatterns of animals or cartoon, logos, characters or any other featuresintended to be shown. The variety of changes derived from similar ideasis included in the present invention.

[0025] Although the present invention has been disclosed in terms ofpreferred embodiments, the disclosure is not intended to limit thepresent invention. The present invention still can be modified, variedby persons skilled in the art without departing firm the scope andspirit of the present invention which are determined by the claimsbelow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vibration-activated light emitting indicationapparatus, which is mounted on a surface of a case to increase theattractiveness of the case, comprising: an indicator plate, which istransparent and has a pattern; a power supply; an electroluminescentlaminate, which is situated beneath the indicator plate and can emit alight as powered by the power supply; and a control unit, connected tothe power supply and the electroluminescent laminate, wherein thecontrol unit connects the power supply to the electroluminescentlaminate when it senses the vibration of the apparatus.
 2. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the electroluminescent laminate is alaminate of single color or multi color.
 3. The apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the electroluminescent laminate emits the light at atime or emits the light intermittently.
 4. The apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the control unit further comprises a vibration sensorIC and an inverter.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thecontrol unit further comprises a music IC to produce a music.
 6. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power supply is a battery.7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein after plural clock pulseswhen the electroluminescent laminate emits the light, the control unitdisconnects the power supply from the electroluminescent laminate. 8.The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pattern is a logo. 9.The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pattern is a pattern ofanimal or cartoon character.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the case is a package box.
 11. The apparatus according to claim1, wherein the case is a DVD box.
 12. The apparatus according to 1,wherein the casing is a bag.
 13. The apparatus according to 1, whereinthe casing is a toy case.